Lid covered container



June 23, 1970 c. w, MORGAN 3,516,570

LID COVERED CONTAINER Filed March 13, 1969 lg-s INVENT OR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,516,570 LID COVERED CONTAINER Carl W. Morgan, 96 Orchard Lane, Bethlehem, Wheeling, W. Va. 26003 Filed Mar. 13, 1969, Ser. No. 807,769 Int. Cl. B65d 41/00 U.S. Cl. 220-42 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container and lid, wherein the lid has a skirt of sufiicient length to prevent removal of the lid from the container by a tilting force, or any force not directed upwardly away from the container and evenly distributed across the lid. The lid skirt length is determined by the formula: seven thiry-seconds to eleven thirty-seconds of skirt length for each one inch of lid diameter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to containers having removable skirted lids, and particularly to refuse containers.

The unsanitary and unsightly conditions caused by overturned refuse containers, particularly garbage containers, are well known to home owners and refuse collectors alike. Whether the container lid is pried off by animals and the container subsequently overturned, or blown over by wind with the lid flying off upon impact with the ground, the result is the same.

Conventional refuse containers have a rolled bead about the upper edge, and frictional contact between the inner surface of the lid skirt and the bead is relied upon to hold the lid fixed in place upon the container. As the bead projects beyond the container outer wall, there is no contact of the lid skirt with the container surface below the bead. Consequently, when the lid is pushed up on one side, the lower edge of the lid skirt diametrically opposed to the point of lift will swing inwardly into contact with the container wall and form a pivotal point about which the lid will then rock. As the point of ocntact in conventional containers is relatively close to the container top, the lid can rock freely over the container edge where lifting force is applied and free the lid from the can.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The general object of the present invention is to provide a container having a skirted lid which, when lifting force is applied on one side only, will increase its frictional hold upon the container and bind itself upon the container.

A more specific object is the provision of such a container wherein the length of the lid skirt is in predetermined ratio to the diameter of the lid, so that the point of pivotal contact of the lid edge with the container side is spaced sufficiently downward from the container rims to prevent the lid from lifting over the container edge on the opposite side with a swing radius determined by the lid diameter.

A further object is to provide a container and lid wherein the lid skirt has contact with the container rim and at the skirt lower edge to prevent inward movement of the lid skirt edge when a tilting force is applied to the lid, thus further limiting the radial swing of the lid and increasing the binding force opposing lid removal.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of this type of container wherein the lid skirt length is determined by a mathematical formula which assures adequate length to prevent removal by a tilting force, yet eliminates the possibility of excess length to retard normal lid removal and result in material waste.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container and its lid embodying the principles of the present invention, the lid being shown removed from the container;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the container with the lid in closed position, parts being broken in section to show interior structure and the lid being shown in dotted lines in raised position;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the upper part of the container with the lid being shown in section and tilted as when upward force is applied against one side of the lid;

FIG. 4 is a View, similar to FIG. 2, with the container being shown lying on its side; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail of a container of modified shape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to that form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, there is shown a container 1 and a lid, or container cover 2. The container is of conventional from, having a bottom 3 from which the circular side wall 4 flares upwardly to define an open top 5. The walls may have circumferential grooves and vertical fluting for strength. As is usually the case, the walls terminates at the top in an outwardly rolled bead 6. Handles 7, pivotally attached to mounting plates 8, are carried near the top of the container side walls at diametrically opposed positions.

The lid 2 includes a circular top 9 which has a depending peripheral skirt 10. The lower edge of the skirt is rolled, as at 11, to rigidify the skirt edge. The usual lifting handle 12 is attached to the center of the lid top, by which a straight upward pull can be imparted to the lid to separate it from the container. The skirt is of such diameter that its inner surface 13 will frictionally engage the container bead 6 when the lid is pushed down over the container top. (See FIG. 2.) With lid shown, the skirt is sufiiciently long to frictionally engage the container handles 7 also. Thus, the lid skirt frictionally holds at the top on the container bead and at the bottom on the container handles. The bearing on the container handles serves two purposes, it provides additional frictional grip on the container, and it prevents substantial inward movement of the lid skirt lower edge (at two opposed points at least) when a tilting force is applied to the lid.

The principles upon which the present invention is based are schematically illustrated in FIG. 3. It will be noted that the lid rolled lower edge is in contact with the container wall (as shown with the container handle 7) at the point 14. This point becomes the pivot for tilting of the lid when force is applied upwardly at the op posite side. The radius about which the lid skirt opposite the pivot 14 will swing is the inner diameter of the skirt, or the lid top width, indicated at a. If the pivot 14 is spaced far enough from the container bead, the radius a will be insufficient to allow the skirt to pass the bead when the lid is tilted. The distance of the pivot 14 from the container top is the length of the lid skirt, represented by the distance 6. The radius of tilting movement of the opposite side of the lid is. indicated by the curved dot and dash line 0. It will be clear from FIG. 3 that the lid cannot pass the container top by tilting, but a positive pinching action will be set up locking the lid against movement.

It will be clear that if the lid is tilted at right angles to the direction shown in FIG. 3, the container handles will not be present in the tilting direction and the lid cover edge must move inwardly into contact with the container wall to establish the pivot 14. Therefore, the

3 distance 6 must be such with relation to the distance a that the same binding result will occur when the lid is tilted.

It has been found that if the distance b is within the range of seven thirty-seconds to eleven thirty-seconds of an inch for each inch of the distance a the desired result Will be obtained, yet there will be no excessive skirt length and no waste material. This ratio applies whether the lid skirt comes down over the container handles or not. If the skirt contacts the handles, added frictional hold is obtained and tilting in one direction is further restricted.

With a container and lid constructed as disclosed, the lid cannot be removed by unequal upward pressure, Whether that pressure is applied at one edge of the lid or at any off-center position. Only when straight upward force is applied equally at opposite sides of the lid, or at the center by means of handle 12 will the lid lift from the container.

The container shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 have tapering sides throughout their lengths. The container 15 of FIG. 5, While tapering throughout the major portion of its length, has a cylindrical top portion 16. With a container of this configuration, the lid 17 has its skirt 18 in much closer relation to the container walls throughout its length than in the previous form. Therefore, there is less movement of the lid skirt lower edge when the lid is tilted, and it is not necessary for the skirt to be as long in all instances as is the case with the preceding form. A ratio of seven thirty-seconds to nine thirtyseconds of an inch skirt length for each inch of lid diameter is adequate.

With either form of the invention, the user can be assured that the lid will remain upon the container, secure against accidental displacement, and removable only by application of a straight upward force uniformly distributed across the can lid.

What is claimed is:

1. A lid-covered container comprising, a container having an open top, and a lid for the container having a depending peripheral skirt at least a part of which is in contact with the container at its top, the length of the lid skirt being so proportioned relative to the lid width that the skirt binds against the container when tilted.

2. A lid-covered container as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the skirt length proportional to the lid diameter is within the range of seven thirty-seconds to eleven thirtyseconds inch per one inch of lid diameter.

3. A lid-covered container as claimed in claim 2 wherein, the container has lifting handles on opposite sides and the lid skirt is in covering relation for at least part of the lifting handles.

4. A lid-covered container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container flares through its length and the skirt length proportional to the lid diameter is within the range of seven thirty-seconds to eleven thirty-seconds inch per one inch of lid diameter.

5. A lid-covered container as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the container is cylindrical at least adjacent its top, and the skirt length proportional to the lid diameter is within the range of seven thirty-seconds to nine thirtyseconds inch per one inch of lid diameter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,401,090 12/1921 Levy 2201 3,127,052 3/1964 Mayers 220 3,429,653 2/1969 Brett 220-42 GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 2201 

